Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Tue 16.12.08, Morning
Sansana:
6:40: the last workers are in the checking lane.
Thirty two trucks standing on the Israeli side. The CP is deserted and apart from one passenger, let off of an Arab-Israeli car, no people or cars are being checked.
Road 60:
There is no traffic at all when pass there, a few children walk along the roadside towards school; all blockages are in place.
Below Otniel – the yellow gate is open; Dahariya – blocked; Samo'a – open; Abeda – open; Karame – closed; Dura el Fawar – open, pillbox manned; Bnei Naim – closed; the Sheep's crossing – open, pillbox manned; Dir Razek – blocked; Kligalis – blocked.
Hebron:
A story from Hebron, concerning the settler Anat Cohen and her associates:
On our way back from the Tel-Rumeydah and Tarpat CPs, we see the soldier standing alone at the post just opposite Beit Hadasah, shouting at a detainee, a Palestinian boy about 16yrs old. We stop immediately and address the soldier. It turns out that the boy gestured at the soldier, thus provoking him – so although the boy's ID care is already in the soldier's hands, he continues to challenge the boy and is blatantly aggressive towards him. About 30m away from us, TIP policemen are watching the events – they are not allowed to intervene. Other peace organizations are not allowed within the H2 area, by orders from the GOC Southern Command. Not even five minutes pass, when the boy's father arrives to vouch for him.
At the same time, Anat Cohen approaches our transit [car]: she presses her face against our driver (A)'s window, and curses him effusively – especially racist and vulgar curses those were. We jointly decide to ignore her and continue our drive, but she forcefully hits the car – I thought stones were thrown at us again.
We drove on, stopping at Basem's grocery. Basem prepared for us a list of the people who were damaged by the settlers' pogroms – the state of Israel has determined to compensate them for those damages and they require help to do so. The boys who works with us suddenly intervenes, saying "Anat Cohen approaches, and she has a knife, she will puncture your wheels."
Stepping out immediately, we saw Anat Cohen calling the police: she claims that we have harassed the soldier (the one, positioned next to Beit-Hadasah) and will not let us drive away now. She clings on to our car and curses liberally. About ten minutes later, a patrol car from the Patriarchs' Tombs' Cave police station arrives and the policemen contend that they must formally open an investigation (they desperately want this investigation to be launched, as they are keen on us filing a complaint against Anat Cohen), they ask us to mount the patrol car and go with them – we refuse to leave our driver, A., behind, so we follow them, back to Beit Hadasah, to bring the soldier who complained against us: we interrupted his activity and harassed him – this is the essence of his complaint.
It takes time, and meanwhile we wait next to the police station at the Patriarchs' Tombs' Cave, being subjected to a routine photo session of Ofer Ohana's, then the routine barge of curses arrives, too, although this time, it's somewhat less vulgar.
Additionally, we now talk to the soldier who filed the complaint against us and we realize that, to his mind, a 16yrs old boy who becomes annoyed by the fact that he is detained three times in a row, merely walking from home to his workplace, should definitely be suspected for having determined to attack Beit-Hadasah, as is confirmed by history.
We all drive on to the police station on top of the Patriarchs' Hill – Ye'ela and I in the transit with A, and the soldier M., in the police van. During our testimonies, it transpired that it was at Anat Cohen's suggestion that he filed his complaint against us; so the complaint is dropped for lack of criminal culpability: we may talk to soldiers without being accused of harassment. But an investigation will be held against Anat Cohen, to which purpose we will have to return, for testimony. The whole story took us about three hours.
The House of Dispute: A squad of soldiers from the border-police guards the house from the direction of the road's entry. Another squad is positioned next to the CP that used to be up top. Along the road, and around the house, curly wires are spread out. The girls walk to school via the House of Dispure but the stairs which climb uphill have been demolished by the settlers – the girls walk alone, with no adult escort.
The pharmacy CP – the children's school bags are no longer examined, and they pass through swiftly with no problems.
Tarpat CP – the teachers pass through without being checked through the gateway – school bags are not being examined.
Tel Rumeydah CP — the soldiers' booth (boudke) is now covered with plastic sheets – no checks performed. Pharmacy CPs – at the passage restricted to Palestinians only, road works are being performed, luckily there is no mud – and no detainees.
At Tel Rumeidah, uphill, next to the HABAD cemetery, we see the burnt Palestinian cars – right in front of the soldiers, who man the pillbox 24hrs a day – but perhaps they don't mind.
Hebron is gloomy and harsh – there are almost no people around and the settlers cheek (hutzpah) simply soars to the skies!
And I said nothing of the despair yet….
Hebron
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According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.
Checkpoints observed in H2:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Leah ShakdielApr-8-2025Hebron: A sign advertising a tempting real estate
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Meitar checkpoint / Sansana
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Meitar Checkpoint / Sansana The checkpoint is located on the Green Line and serves as a border crossing between Israel and the West Bank. It is managed by the Border Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry. It is comprised of sections for the transfer of goods as well as a vehicle checkpoint (intended for holders of blue identity cards, foreign nationals or diplomats and international organizations). Passing of Palestinians is prohibited, except for those with entry permits to Israel. Palestinians are permitted to cross on foot only. The crossing has a DCO / DCL / DCL / DCL (District Coordination Office), a customs unit, supervision, and a police unit. In the last year, a breach has been opened in the fence, not far from the crossing. This breach is known to all, including the army. There does not appear to be any interest in blocking it, probably as it permits needed Palestinian workers without the bureaucratic permits to get to work in Israel. Food stalls and a parking area economy have been created, but incidents of violent abuse by border police have also been recorded. Updated April 2022
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South Hebron Hills
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South Hebron Hills
South Hebron Hills is a large area in the West Bank's southern part.
Yatta is a major city in this area: right in the border zone between the fertile region of Hebron and its surroundings and the desert of the Hebron Hills. Yatta has about 64,000 inhabitants.
The surrounding villages are called Masafer Yatta (Yatta's daughter villages). Their inhabitants subsist on livestock and agriculture. Agriculture is possible only in small plots, especially near streams. Most of the area consists of rocky terraces.Since the beginning of the 1980s, many settlements have been established on the agricultural land cultivated by the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills region: Carmel, Maon, Susia, Masadot Yehuda, Othniel, and more. Since the settlements were established and Palestinians cultivation areas have been reduced; the residents of the South Hebron Hills have been suffering from harassment by the settlers. Attempts to evict and demolish houses have continued, along with withholding water and electricity. The military and police usually refrain from intervening in violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians do not enforce the law when it comes to the investigation of extensive violent Jewish settlers. The harassment in the South Hebron Hills includes attacking and attempting to burn residential tents, harassing dogs, harming herds, and preventing access to pastures.
There are several checkpoints in the South Hebron Hills, on Routes 317 and 60. In most of them, no military presence is apparent, but rather an array of pillboxes monitor the villages. Roadblocks are frequently set up according to the settlers and the army's needs. These are located at the Zif Junction, the Dura-al Fawwar crossing, and the Sheep Junction at the southern entrance to Hebron.
Updated April 2022
Raya YeorMay-15-2025No-traffic signs around Dahariya
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